Compare towns
Benson vs Cavendish vs Windham vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Benson | Cavendish | Windham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,242Highest |
594Lowest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Windham and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
— | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 18% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.